News and Articles

The Thai cabinet has approved 1.8 billion baht (about 48.8 million USD) in financial assistance to the Lao government for the maintenance and improvement of the R12 highway. This highway will shorten the journey time from Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom province, through Laos, to the Vietnamese border in Quang Binh province.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Kaenika Oonchit said that Highway R12 starts in Thakhek, the capital of Khammouane province in Laos, at the junction with Highway R13, which is about 17km from Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom border checkpoint. It runs through Laos and ends in the Vietnamese border province of Quang Binh, covering a total distance of 147km. It forms an integral part of the Asian Highway Network.

She also mentioned that the money will be used to upgrade cargo terminals, storage facilities, lighting at intersections, public utilities, and drainage systems in communities, as well as tourist attractions along the route. The R12 highway will enhance road communication and logistics linking Thailand with Laos, Vietnam, and China, shortening the transit time from ten to just four hours and reducing customs procedures from five to just two checkpoints. The R12 is considered the shortest route compared to R8 or R9 along the East-West Economic Corridor.

Kaenika said that the amount of goods transported from Nakhon Phanom into Laos via R12, after the completion of maintenance works, is anticipated to increase by about 50%.